Alexander j



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A J MoDONOUGH POTATO SBPARATING AND GRADING MACHINE. No. 495,945.

Patented Apr. 18,1893.

W Mme 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

. A. J. MODONOUGH.

POTATO, SEPARATING AND GRADING MACHINE.

P atent ed Apr. 18, 1893.

7H5 Noam: PETERS cm, mm'oumm. WASHINGTON, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER J. MCDONOUGH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-FOURTH TO JOHN V. BAIRD, OF SAME PLACE.

POTATO-SEPARATING AND GRADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,945, dated April18, 1893.

Application filed April 12 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER J. MoDoN- OUQBI, a citizen of the Dominionof Canada, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, State ofCalifornia, have invented cer ta1 n new and useful Improvements inMachines for Grading, Assorting, and Cleaning Potatoes; and I herebydeclare the following specification and the drawings therewith to be afull and exact description of my invention. My invention relates tomachines for gradlng, assorting, and cleaning potatoes int o variousslzes, and removing the earth and dirt from the same, and consists inthe combinanon of two movable and one fixed screen, the whole containedon one frame, with suitable gearing for operating the screens, as shownin the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveelevation of one of mylmproved potato grading or assortingmach1nes,showingallthe various partsconnected. Fig. 2is an enlargeddetail, showing the manner of forming the curved ends of the bars orgrates of the vibrating screens. Fig. 3 is another enlarged detailshowing the metal tips or mountings for the rear or highest ends of thebars or grates of the vibrating screens.-

Fig. a is another enlarged detail, showing the osclllating supports onwhich the vibrating screens are mounted. Fig. 5 is a vertical transversesection of the machine, showing the graduated screens.

Similar letters of reference on the different figures indicatecorresponding parts of the machine. My invention relates to machines forassort- 1ng, selecting, or, as it is commonly called, gradlng, potatoesso as to separate them into 0 their classes or lots of different size,also cleanlng them and removing the sprouts when required and thus adaptthem for market, for Seed, or for any other purpose.

It consists of a machine having three screens, two of which have avibrating motion imparted to them by suitable gearing, and a fixedscreen at the bottom; it also consists in Various mechanical details ofthe machine, as will be more fully explained in connection with thedrawing.

Serial No. 428,886. (No model.)

The main frame H is of the usual construction, and requires noexplanation. On the top of the main frame isahopper A, into whichpotatoes are fed, and slide down on the inclined faces a a, passingthrough the throat a, and from there they fall on the first screen B. Somany of the potatoes as will not fall through the bars or grates of thisscreen pass off over the apron B and are there collected. The potatoespassing through the screen B, fall on the second one C, which isarranged with finer meshes between the bars S, and the same operationoccurs as before, and a second size or grade is selected, and falls offover the apron C as before. Such potatoes as pass through between thebars of this second screen C, fall on the stationary one D, which hasstill finer meshes, permitting only the smallest or waste potatoes topass through, with earth or dirt that is detached by the shaking orvibrating action of the screens B and C. This gives a third or smallergrade of potatoes that are discharged at d.

To operate the two main screens 13 and C, I employ two cranked shafts Eand F, each having two cranks e e and ff, as shown in Fig. 1. These twoshafts are supported on bearings on the main frame H, and are connectedor driven by means of wheels E and F, keyed on the ends. Between andmeshing into these wheels E and F, is an intermediate wheel G, operatedby a crank g, so that both shafts E and F are revolved at equal speedand in opposite directions. The cranks on these shafts E and F are alsoset opposite, so that the main screens B and C connected to the cranksby the links 9 e and ff will be given a simultaneous movement inopposite directions, and thus neutralize any vibration of the ma chinefrom the vibratory motion of the screens.

To connect the discharge ends of the bars or grates b and c I employmetallic tips b of curved form as shown in Fig. 2. Through the ends ofthese tips is a square hole to receive a bar B to which each bar isfastened by set screws b At the other ends of the screens the bars orgrates are supported by means of metallic sockets b as shown in Fig. 3,having also a through bar 19 fastened by set screws b so the bars I) anda can be adjusted sidewise and thus the spaces or meshes arranged atwill or as the work may demand, and the whole confined and held firmlyin place.

The screens B and O are suspended on the main frame H by means of crankor oscillatingbearings B shown in Fig. 4:. These cranks or supports fitloosely in the sides of the screens B and O, and also in the main frame11, so that the curvature of their movement gives the screens B and O avertical or curved as well as a longitudinal movement, and th usproduces a suitable agitation of the potatoes as they pass over thescreens.

The two screens B and 0, instead of being set parallel as shown, may beset with their pitch opposite so as to discharge at each end of the mainframe, in which case the driving or shaking gearing would requiremodification accordingly.

It will be noted that the screen B is made longer than the screen C, sothat the potatoes can be discharged from the screens with greaterfacility into their proper receptacles.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what Iclaim as new, 25 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A potato separator, consisting of the main frame H, the hopper Atherein, the graduated screens B and O, suspended in the crankedbearings 13 and C and consisting of the ad- 30 justable bars I) and 0,supported at one end by the bars 11 and c and sockets b and c" and heldin place by set screws, the curved metallic tips I) and 0 connecting thedischarge ends of the bars I) and c, said tips being provided withsquare holes to receive the bars 13 and 0 secured in place by setscrews, the aprons, the gearing for operating said screens and thestationary screen D below the oscillat'ing screen, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto at? fixed my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER J. MCDONOUGH.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIST, WILSON D. BENT, Jr.

